Copyholder



Dec. 12, 1950 H. VAN BUREN 2,533,856

COPYHOLDER Filed May 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/W/M ATTORN EYJ Dec. 12,1950 H. VAN BUREN COPYHOLDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 24, 1949ATTORNEYS Dec. 12, 1950 H. VAN BUREN COPYHOLDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledMay 24, 1949 ATTORNEYE Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE- COPYHOLDER Harry Van Buren, Dallas, Tex.

Application May 24, 1949, Serial No. 95,007

4 Claims.

The object of my present invention is to provide an improved copy holderthe various units of which are cast from light alloys and which are soassociated as to afford simple disassembly for storage or shipment.

' Another object of my invention is the provision of a copy holdingmachine which when assembled and set up for use may be collapsed to theheight of a typewriter and need never be removed from the operators deskunless so desired.

A further object of this invention is to present a. simplified machinein which one paper holding feed roller consists of a magnifying tubewhich acts as a copying line guide.

' Still another object of this device is the provisionof a copy holderwherein the operating force necessary to advance the paper may beadjusted to the desired touch of the copyist and wherein the momentum ofthe operating lever is retarded or clamped by an attached air cylinderor dashpot.

Another purpose of my present invention is to provide a copy holdingmachine so constructed as to permit operation by the little finger ofthe typist without the necessity of removing the hand from typingposition on the keyboard of the typewriter.

Still other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description of the present invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which:

- In the drawings:

- Figure l is a front elevation of a copy holder embodying my inventionshown with its panel in the raised position.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the copy holder as shown" in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the copy holder as seen when viewing theright hand side of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2 andshowing the operating lever mechanism.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 2 showing the bailroll and paper release embodied in the copy holder.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'l-? of Fig. 2 showing thepaper advancing pawl and racket in operative engagement.

Figure 7A is a partial view of the advancing mechanism shown in Fig. 7with the parts disengaged.

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the means fordetachably interlocking the copy feed arm and its pitman.

Figure 9 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 9-9 ofFig. 5.

Figure 10 is an enlarged plan view of the panel locking structure.

Similar reference characters in the several figures indicate similarparts.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be seen thatthe base portion of my copy holder is L-shaped and comprises a castcross piece [U to which there is fitted at one end an other casting Hwhich extends forwardly (Fig. 3) said parts, which when the device is ino-per ating position, will enclose the rear and right hand edges of atypewriter. The section It has integrally formed on its left hand end ashort cross piece l2 supported on rubber discs It for contact with adesk top. The opposite end of section I 0 is rabbeted at I 4 to receivethe rear end of the forwardly extending longitudinal section ll, thesemating sections being secured together by the bolt assembly l5.

' The section II consists of a horizontal base plate l6 (Figs. 3 and 5)having a vertical flange H at its outer longitudinal edge, the rear endof which is formed with a vertically projecting loop 18 to provide anelongated eye or opening [9 the purpose of which will be laterexplained. Rubber discs l3 on the bottom surface of plate l6 at its endscooperate with the previously mentioned discs l3 to provide the copyholder with a nonskidding surface contact which prevent marring thefinish of the desk top.

The cross piece 10 of the base of my device carries a pair of verticalguide rods 20. Reduced threaded ends of these rods pass throughaperturesin the section I0 and are rigidly secured in plac by nuts 2|.Movably positioned on the guide rods 20 is a panel 23 which hasperpendicular side flanges 24 and similar top and bottom horizontalflanges M which project rearwardly to form a shallow box-like structure.The rear faces of said flanges are provided with a plurality of smallthreaded holes 25 to enable the attachment of a closure plate (notshown) over the open side of the panel box to prevent undue collectionof dust on operating parts contained therein and to increase theneatnessand attractiveness of the device in general. Bosses 25 areprovided to give' body to the flanges 24 at points selected for thelocation of the threaded holes The panel 23 is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3and 4 in a raised position on the guide rods 20. It is this positionthat is assumed when the copy holder is in use. In order to maintain thepanel as sembly in the raised position, I have provided a locking bar 21having. a horizontal flange 3|.

which is supported in slots 28 (Fig. 4) passing through side flanges 24and the bosses 29 attached thereto and to the rear face of panel 23. Thebosses 29 are provided with apertures receiv: ing the upper ends of therods and the ends of the rods carry stops which may be cotter pins 30 tolimit the upward movement of the panel box once it isassembled-on. theguide rods. 7

Near the upper ends of rods 20 arehorizontal' notches 20 shown in Fig.10, cut into the right hand sides thereof, as viewed in Fig. 2. Thesenotches are of sufiicient depth to accommodate.

a portion of the peripheral edges of elliptical apertures 3| in theopposite ends ofthe-horizontal plate 3! of the locking bar.2'l. Fromthis i it will be seen that when the bar 2! is in the position shown inFig. 2 the edge of each elliptical aperture of the bar will engage itsrespective notch and thus'prevent'any vertical vmovementof the panel.For automaticallyi'engaging.theloclc-- in'g'ba-rZ'I, when the panel hasbeenzraisedtoits normal upward position, there isa coil spring 32connected to" the bar' and toan apertured protuberance 33 on the innerface ofrpanel .23.

The" spring asthus 1 positioned is. placed? under tension and as aresultconstantly tends toiorce.

the bar 2'! into locking engagement with the notches or'to the left asviewed in Fig. 2'.

When it is desired'to lower the panel 23 to an inoperative and compactposition: the tab 34- on the end of the-locking bar. is depressed: todisengage the bar from the notches in the guide rods 20- whereupon thepanel is forcedi downwardly carrying the-barwith itibycoil- I springs 35which were compressed under the momentum-created in raising the panelprevi'e ously. The entire panel assembly being:then"free.

maybe moved'downwardly to'its'collapsed posi tion where its upperedgewillbe below-.the itopi of "the typewriter where it will notintereferei with further activity of the typist.

Inorder to hold the material tobecopied fi'rma 13 against the frontfaceof panel 23, 1 prefer to use a combination paper holder and magnifyingline guide;-

is enclosed by a metallic "cap 3-1 with an axial nipple 38 thereon. Thenipple at the Tightentremity of the magnifying tube; as-viewedfin'Figl1"; isreceived in an apertureformed in=the upper end ofa pivot arm'39.The opposite nippleflfi This assembly consists of'a liquid-- filled"glass tube 36 extending horizontally across the front of the panel 23:Each end ofthe tube" orrthe left side of tube 35' is inserte'cl' intoalon-'-- gitudinal slot 38 inthe upper-end"of a'second' pivot'arm 40;The latternipple isrotatablyse= cured within this slot by' m'eans'ofapivoted latch 4| which is slotted to provide a projectingfinger panelbox-flange 24. Theinner endsfsofr'thei pins 43-are supported byapertured ibosses lfi formed on thez'rearsfaceof panel-.23.. Eachxinlisisun rounded" by a coilispring 413oner-endioff whichpasses-througha slot (not shown) in'tsthe piniand the other. end. of:the springtpresses against-the surface of the panel 23. The springs 41are so positioned as to be placed under a twisting tension and thereforeconstantly urge the tube 36 toward the front surface of the panel toprovide a holdin force against the papers carried by the device. Thusthe tube 36 has the dual function of holding the copy material inposition and of magnifying each line of print as it moves behindthetube. p 7

Means are provided torelieve the=holding force exerted by the tube inorder to remove or adjust the copy material as occasionmay arise. Toaccomplish this end I use a paper release lever 48 which is secured toone end of an oscillatory cam rod' 49 by means of the screw 50, as shownin Fig. .6. Therod 49 lies adjacent the rear face of panel 23 and issupported at its ends in aperturesprovided in the side flanges 24. Atpoints opposite pivot arms 39 segmental slots are cut in the cylindricalsurface of the rod so that when lever 48 is rotated ineitherdirectiontheedges. ofthe slots actas cams to move the armsa-way. from:the panel 23 thereby spacing in anoutward position relative to the tube36. Whenit is.de.- sired torenew thesholding eiTect ofthetubeassemblythe releaselever. isreturned to its original. positionwhereupon the pivot arms 39 oncemore enter their respective slots in thecam rod.49.-'

Feeding the paper-comprising the copyis ace complished by a: transversecylindrical rubber roller 5|, the forward edge of which protrudesthrough arr elongated opening 52 in the panel .23 into cooperativerelation with the tube 36 ;whe'n the latter is in the holdingeposition.1 Said roller is supported by journaling the end of .itscentral corerod53 in aperturesin the side flanges .24 of the panel box. I

A ratchet/wheel 54 is attached to one end of the rodv 53, the wheel beinprovided with aninner. hub 55 acting to space the wheel to assureproper. clearance between it and the. proximate. end .of thepaperholding and feeding assembly previously mentioned. Q

On a similar hubon the outer" face of the ratchet wheel 54 anoscillatoryarm 55 1s -journaled which is held in position by a knurled abutment'nut'51. 7

As will'beseen in Fig. 7, the free end of am}. 56 carries a pawl 58which 'engagesthe peripheral teeth of the ratchet wheel torotateitandfeeelv roller 5!. The pawl 58 is connected tozthe. armbymeans: of a pivot'screw 59. and is tapered'as at some conform tothe-outline of the lower edges. of the arm to prevent the presentationof u-ne necessary projecting edges which might catch-in the clothing ofthe typist. Surrounding the pivot screw 59, is a coil spring having anend'rfil which extends into a small hole 62' inthe arm whileits oppositeenditfi extendsover the top-of the pawl to urge the same intoengagementwith the teeth of the sprocket.-

Should it be desired to manually reverse the rotational direction of therubber roller 5l and thus. lower the 'copysheet on'the panel, the pawlrelease knob 64 may be turned to rotateha semi;

cylindrical cam 65 which will hold pawl 58'out.of. engagement. with the.sprocket teeth. v As seen-2m Fig. 7A..the.-,ratchetwheel isthusqfreeto'revolvein either direction.

Vertical reciprocation of. the: oscillatory arm-56 is'..efiectedi.by themanipulation of anactuating. lever 66- by the typist. The forward end ofthe actuating lever-:is: provided with acurved finger key 67 offset fromtheplane of thelever as shown in Fig. 1. This offsettingflfeature;ofxthe key 61..

' allows it to be positioned in proximate relation with keys of thetypewriter thereby permitting the operator to depress said finger keywithout removing her hand from typing position over. the keyboard. Theactuating lever 55 i pivoted near its center on the shank of a boltassembly 68 which passes through the vertical flange ll of the basesection I I. r

A vertical arm or pitman 59 is joined at its lower end to the lever E36by a swivel pin and at its upper end to the arm 56. This latterconnection is effected by means of a projecting pin H (Fig.8) carried bythe arm and which is re-' ceived within an aperture 32 formed at theupper 'end of the arm 8. The arm is held in place on the pin it by meansof a U-shaped snap spring 13 fastened to the outer side of the arm by ascrew 14. The free ends of the spring '53 extend through recess openingsformed in the front and rear peripheral faces of a boss 16 on the upperend of arm 59 and engage a peripheral groove on the outer end of pin llthereby retarding outward movement of the toggle arm on the pin. Theouter edge of the pin groove is beveled to permit the disassociation ofthe arm and pin H with a slight force exerted by the typist when it isdesired to collapse the panel assembly as heretofore explained. Thetoggle arm when released from its operative position, may be lowered toan unobstructing position as shown in Fig. 5.

The ultimate amount of each arcuate movement of the paper-conveyingrubber cylinder 5| is controlled by means of a space regulating assemblyTi (Fig. 9). This regulator is adjustable to limit the extent ofdepression of the operating lever 56 in order to precisely position eachsuccessive printed line of the copy material behind the line guide 35with each actuating stroke by the copyist.

The horizontal plate i5 is provided with a shallow groove iii toposition a support member 18 firmly attached to the plate by a screw 88.The support member has an overhanging shelf 8| projecting from its upperend and in which is journaled a carrier screw 82. The lower end of thescrew 82 passes through an alined aperture in the plate 56 and isprovided with a detachable abutment head 83 to restrain the carrierscrew assembly from vertical movement.

An internally threaded metallic stop piece 84 and a superposed rubberpad 85 are carried by the screw and are reciprocated in their verticalconfine by manipulation of the knurled knob 86 formed integrally withthe screw. As seen in Figs. 1 and 9 a coil spring 81 surrounds a portionof the screw and is confined between th collar BI' and the rubber pad 85to provide sumcient frictional force between the parts to preventaccidental movement of the adjusted assembly.

When the finger key 61 of the operating lever is released from thedepressed position, shown dotted at til in Fig. 3, the combined weightof the arm 69 and the contracting force of a light coil spring 89 actingon the rear end of lever 55 (Fig. 5) returns the rear end of the leverto its initial resting place on the base portion ii of the copy holder.

In operating the spacing lever 66 it may gain momentum on either thedriving or return stroke which ordinarily would result in a jarring andnoisy impact between certain metallic parts of the device. To obviatethis undesirable occurrence I have provided on the lever a small aircylinder 98 to act as a governor to dampen the stroke, the cylinderbeing pivotally supported on the lever by a projection 9|. The piston incylinder 93 is carried on a piston rod 92 suspende ed from the upper rimof the projecting loop H! by a laterally extending pin 93.

Hence it will be seen that the small amount of compression within theair cylinder effectively slows the movement of the mechanism to assure asmooth and noiseless operation of the machine in each direction.

A further control of the actuating lever 66 is provided by a frictionaladjustment arranged for the rubber feed roller 58. This is accomplishedby threading on the end of the roller rod 52 a knob 94 shown in Figs. 1and 2. The knob has a boss 95 on the inner face thereof which maycompress a spacing collar 9! against a coil spring 96 the inner end ofwhich engages the panel flange 24. By screwing the knob 94 tighter thespring is compressed creating a friction which retards the rotation ofthe paper conveying roller assembly. Thus it will be seen that byregulating this frictional force the actuating lever will be accordinglyadjusted to the desired touch of the copyist. Once correctly positionedthe knob '94 may be secured in place by the set screw 98 shown in Fig.1.

On the opposite end of the transverse rod 52 I have shown a second knob99 removably attached to the rod by means of a set screw I03.

This knob may be used for manual operation of the paper conveyingmechanism independent of the previously described ratchet and pawlassembly.

The upper portion of my copy holding panel I is provided with a bailroll assembly lBl. This assembly consists of the transverse bar H12 anda rearwardly extending arcuate fin ms secured thereto. The bar isconnected at its axial extremities to a pair of supporting arms IIM bymeans of holding screws Hi5. Supporting arms I04 are in turn pivotallyattached to the side flanges or" the panel box by pivot screws [06. Thedownward swing of the bail roll is limited by small abutment screws it!carried by the side flanges 24.

It is apparent from Fig. 6 that in its normal forward position the bailroll will automatically turn the copy backward and prevent the same fromfalling forward to obstruct the line of vision. Since the bail rollshown in the drawings is movable, the operator is allowed to copy from anumber of sheets which are fastened together without tearing them apart.By merely rotating the bail roll to its backward position and releasingthe paper holder, the sheets can be backed through the machine to astarting point.

From the foregoing description of my present invention it will be seenthat I have provided a compact and light weight copy holder whichpossesses the advantages of ease of operation, simplicity anddurability. Furthermore by casting the panel and its supporting framefrom a light weight alloy the need for spot welding and various othermechanical operations is avoided.

This device afiords a convenient means for advancing material to becopied with the desired touch of the typist and without the necessity ofremoving the hand from the keyboard of the typewriter, this operationbeing accomplished with a minimum of noise and jar by the cooperatingparts of the device.

While a preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, itwill be understood 75 that variation in details of form may be madeapsspzsc without departure. from the invention as defined in theappended claims.

'Iclaim:

1. In a copy holder, a combination with an L-ishaped base composed of arear cross piece anda forwardly extending lateral piece both be.- ing ofcast metal and mortised at their overlapping ends, and vertical guiderods on the rear piece, of a cast metal panel having rearwardlyextendingfianges guided on the rods, an adjustable: cross bar slidablyretained by said panel and: extending beyond the sides thereof, saidbar-interlocking with the rods to hold the panel elevated position,spring means connecting said panel and rods biasing the panel to anonelevated position, cooperating. paper vfeed rolls on. the. panel, aratchet on one of the rolls and a pawl for operating it, a.spacingflever on the lateral base piece and. an arm extendingvertically iromits rear end for actuating the ratchet. 4

2:...In a copy holder, the combination with an ,L-shaped base composedof a rear cross piece and .a forwardly extending lateral piece bothbeing of cast metal and mortised at their overlapping ends, and verticalguide rods on the rear piece, of a'cast metal panel having rearwardlyextending flanges guided on the rods, an adjustable cross bar in rear ofthe panel interlocking with the rods to hold the panel in elevatedposition, cooperating paper 'feed 'rolls on the panel, a O

ratchet on one of the rolls and a pawl for operating it, a spacing leveron the lateral base piece and an arm extending vertically from its rearend, for actuating the ratchet, and a rotatable cam member forselectively preventing engagement between said pawl and ratchet.

'3. In a copy holder, the combination with an -L-s'haped base composedof' a rear cross piece and a forwardly extending lateral piece bothbeing of cast metal and mortised at their over-- lapping ends, andvertical guide rods on the rear piece, of a cast metal panel havingrearwardl y extending flanges guided on the rods, an adjustable crossbar slidab'ly retained by said panel and extending beyond the sidesthereof, said :bazr

' interlocking with the rods to hold the panel in elevated "position,spring means connecting said panel. and. rods biasing the panel to .anon-elevated position, cooperating paper feed rollsron the panel, aratchet on one of the rolls, a-pa-wl for operating it, a spacing leveron the lateral bas'e piece, an. arm extending verticallyirom its-rearend for actuating the ratchet, and a rotatable cam member forselectively preventingengagement between said pawl and ratchet.

'4. In a copy holder adapted to be mounted :in rear of .a typewriter,the combination with a. base. guide rods thereon and a verticallyadjustable two zposition panel thereon in one position being hiddenbehind the typewriter and the other being elevated in copy holdingposition, and we'- leasable locking means on the panel cooperating withtherods for holding it'in copyin'g 1105i? tion, of copy feeding rolls onthe upper. portion of the panel, a ratchet on one of the rolls, a pawl.cooperating therewith, and an oscillatory arm carrying the pawl, aspacing lever, an. lip-.- wardly extending arm on the lever and a springclip connection between the upper end of the 1-19 wardly extending armand the oscillatoryarm for disconnecting rsaid parts to enable the panelto be adjusted downwardly into the first mentioned position.

HARRY VAN BUR-EN.

. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES "PATENTS Jackson May 2,. 1950

